Murphy Convinced By Triumph Hope

John Murphy will give JCB Triumph Hurdle hope Convincing one more run before the Cheltenham Festival.

The County Cork-based handler earmarked the Grade Three Winning Fair Juvenile Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on February 24 as the four-year-old's next port of call.

Convincing has won three times in four starts over timber and had a valid excuse when he was tailed off behind Triumph Hurdle favourite Lounaos at Leopardstown as he returned home with a temperature.

'Convincing is jumping around the yard at the moment he is that well,' said Murphy.

'He is going to Fairyhouse next weekend for a Grade Three. He'll go for that before the Triumph because he thrives on racing and he is screaming the place down at present.

'People have an idea that he needs bottomless ground just because he has won his three races on bottomless but he is better on good ground.

'Eddie Power who rides him says he is the laziest thing he has ever ridden and he was pulling himself up when he hit the front last time.'

Convincing is available at 33-1 with Paddy Power for the Triumph Hurdle next month.

(C) PA Sport